John McIntyre goes into this weekend's round at Timaru with a solid championship lead. Photo / MotorSport Company/SportProMedia
New Zealand V8s motor racing champion John McIntyre is looking back to lessons learned last year to ensure the road ahead of him remains free of obstacles.
McIntyre has built a handy 79-point lead as he works towards retaining his championship title.
The Nelson driver said he would
use last year's high-pressure win to help him get through this season's final six races.
With the last two rounds in Timaru this weekend and at Teretonga on March 8-9, the pressure will not ease until after the last race.
"These last two rounds will require me and the whole John McIntyre Racing (JMR) team to have made the best possible mental preparation," McIntyre said.
"We'll be drawing on the experience of winning last year's championship under immense pressure in the very final race of the season."
McIntyre's closest rival is Auckland's Angus Fogg, on 658, while Kayne Scott, of Hamilton, is third on 621.
Fogg appreciates how hard it will be to peg back the series leader.
"It's very easy to lose points against another driver, but hard to gain them back," said Fogg, who won the previous round at Manfeild to slice 26 points off McIntyre's lead.
NZV8 standings
John McIntyre (Nelson) Ford 737 points 1, Angus Fogg (Auckland) Ford 658 2, Kayne Scott (Hamilton) Ford 621 3, Paul Radisich (Melbourne) Ford 520 5, Paul Manuell (Auckland) Holden 509 6, Andy Booth (Auckland) Holden 487 6, Clark Proctor (Auckland) Ford 454 7, Dean Perkins (Pukekohe) Ford 409 8, Cameron McLean (Brisbane) Ford 397 9, David Besnard (Gold Coast) Ford 304 10.
- NZPA
